Clean Sigeumchi Muchim (Seasoned Spinach) with Sesame Oil
A clean-tasting seasoned spinach dish for ancestral rites, seasoned simply with tuna extract sauce and toasted sesame oil without green onion or garlic.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
This clean-tasting seasoned spinach is seasoned simply without strong aromatics like green onion and garlic, making it perfect for ancestral rite tables. Blanched quickly in salted boiling water for about 30 seconds and tossed with tuna extract sauce and ground sesame seeds, it brings out the natural sweetness of the ingredient. It is also great as a filling for gimbap or bibimbap on ordinary days.
- Servings
- about 3–4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spiciness
- Not spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Spinach400 g
- Coarse sea salt1 tbsp
Seasoning
- Tuna extract sauce (chamchi-aek) (or 1/2 tbsp soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) + a little salt)1 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seeds1 tbsp (ground)
- Toasted sesame oil1 tbsp
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
Here is 400 g of Namhae spinach.
Trim and wash the spinach
Remove damaged or yellow leaves, keep the pink root ends, and split them into bite-sized pieces.
Soak the spinach briefly so any dirt or debris falls away, then rinse several times under running water.
Blanch the spinach
Add 1 tbsp coarse sea salt to the water for blanching the spinach and bring it to a rolling boil.
Add the spinach and stir quickly so it wilts evenly all over.
Blanch quickly for about 30 seconds, and...
Rinse immediately in cold water, then squeeze out the moisture tightly.
Grind the toasted sesame seeds
Lightly grind the toasted sesame seeds for the seasoned greens rather than grinding them too finely.
It makes the seasoned greens much nuttier and more delicious.
Season the spinach
Shake out the clumped spinach...
If the spinach stems seem long, cut them into bite-sized lengths.
Add 1 tbsp ground toasted sesame seeds and 1 tbsp tuna extract sauce (chamchi-aek).
Since hardly any seasonings go in, I seasoned it with savory tuna extract sauce, but you can also use a mix of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) and salt.
Toss gently until evenly mixed, and finish with salt if it tastes bland.
Complete
Thanks to the sweetness of the spinach, it is delicious even when seasoned very simply.
Ppunwife's tips
- Lightly grind the toasted sesame seeds for the seasoned greens rather than grinding them too finely.
- Since hardly any seasonings go in, I seasoned it with savory tuna extract sauce. You can also use a mix of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) and salt.
FAQ
Why are green onion and garlic omitted in seasoned spinach for ancestral rites?
Tradition avoids strong pungent seasonings in foods served for memorial rites or ancestral tables, so it is seasoned cleanly without green onion or garlic.
How long should the spinach be blanched in boiling water?
Add the spinach to salted boiling water, stir quickly, and blanch briefly for about 30 seconds.
Can I season it with something else instead of tuna extract sauce?
If you do not have tuna extract sauce, you can season it with a combination of soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) and salt.
Is there a specific reason to lightly grind the toasted sesame seeds?
Lightly grinding the toasted sesame seeds without making them too fine brings out a much richer nutty aroma and flavor in seasoned greens.
